To provide a better understanding of our process, we are continually adding new content below. If you want to submit a question to add to our site, feel free to email us at info@forestviewstaining.com.

How often do I need to stain my deck?

That depends on a few variables such as the type of lumber, surrounding environment, quality of stain as well as application. To simply wash then sand and apply stain without proper knowledge of these variables will guarantee stain failure.

In a nutshell, to remove the old stain and re-do the whole process will usually cost close to double of the original price!

Every year we are testing both new and existing products on a variety of lumber to ensure that we are qualified with the current market.

How soon after construction should I stain or seal my deck?

We often receive inquiries to stain new decks that have remained un-treated for several months or longer because the builders told the homeowners that they needed to wait until they could apply stain to the deck. Sadly, this could not be further from the truth.

If one intends to use water based, alkyd based or other cheap stains, this would hold true because the wood needs to dry out enough to allow these inefficient products to provide some lasting results. However, when using organic based products, the wood can be stained immediately after construction. This will avoid any cracking, warping and excessive sanding when staining your deck.

Why do prices from deck staining companies vary so much?

Excluding student painters and other inexperienced companies, there are essentially three different types of companies that will stain a deck. These include Painting Companies, Companies with slogans such as “Pressure Wash and Seal” and Professional Wood Care Companies.

Professional painting companies will generally have an adequate knowledge of how to use stain. The quality of the stain project is a gamble depending on their experience with wood and stain products. Most of these companies will lack in experience with proper wood and stain preparation such as using proper cleaners, pressure washing and sanding. Waiting for the proper weather conditions throughout the process is usually quite troublesome for them to deal with. Prices will usually be on the higher scale because deck staining projects are secondary to their primary painting business. Most do not offer any kind of warranty.

Pressure Wash and Seal companies are essentially as their name implies. They will wash the wood only using water and spray on a clear solution to provide some protection to your deck. The products that they use will definitely require annual maintenance. Prices will be solely based on square footage and are reflected in the cheap prices. Some of these companies will delve into stain applications but buyer-beware as these companies usually have little experience with the proper procedures to ensure that the stain will last longer than a year. Warranties are not something that you should expect with these types of companies...

Professional Wood Care Companies are few because of the variety of challenges that encompass the nature of their work such as the changing weather conditions. Providing a quality and lasting finish requires a very high level of knowledge and organization to ensure that problems do not occur. Warranties should be available but are often not. There are some companies that might use poor products, cut corners or simply make claims that refinishing a deck is easy which is a red flag and is usually indicative of a cheaper price. Prices from a professional wood care company are usually higher than most because they understand the process better and don’t cut corners.

What is a solid stain?

A solid stain looks like paint but isn't! Solid stains are now available with an oil primer for adhesion combined with a latex finish for the flexibility to adapt during weather changes. Also there are solid stains that provide a urethane finish to give more strength to the stain.

Which wood cleaning products work best?

Unfortunately all wood cleaners are not created equal. Most cleaning products on the market contain "sodium hypochlorite" commonly known as bleach. NEVER apply any product with this chemical to your wood structure. They may appear to brighten and clean the wood however, the bleach will destroy the lignin (the natural glue that bonds woods fibers together). If products that contain bleach are applied, the stain or sealer will not properly adhere to the wood fibers.

Is it acceptable to wash the wood without using cleaners?

For regular washing between stain applications just to freshen up your deck is fine. When washing wood prior to sanding and staining, one should always spend a little extra money to do the job properly. Simply washing the wood with water will not remove tough dirt, mildew and open up the pores to allow the stain to properly sink. Scrubbing in a quality cleaner/conditioner will always provide the best results.

Is it necessary to protect both sides of the fence?

This is a very popular question. Often times people will ask us to stain just one side of the fence. This does add some protection to the wood, however, the result is that the fence is still only half protected. Exposed wood vulnerable to UV rays and high moisture will discolour and be most noticeable in a very short time period.

Our Quality is Guaranteed

We are committed to exceeding client’s expectations and will ensure that our projects sustain quality and durability or we will re-service the project free of charge.

We have Earned the Trust

Many of our clients hired us to fix the problems that previous companies have caused. Sadly, many of these occurrences happened within the first year after the project was completed...

Below is one of many examples of this:

2011

Dan,
Thank you for the excellent work that you did to bring my deck back from the ugly state it was in as a result of an incompetent deck stain company. A prior deck stain and repair “expert” had refinished my deck the year before and it began to show problem areas only a few months later. The owner had promised on numerous occasions to return and fix this issue, but he never did. Your company was highly recommended to me by a relative and you sure lived up to claims of wonderful work and exceptional customer service.

After our initial meeting, I knew that you understood exactly what I was hoping to accomplish with my deck. You even pointed out many rotting stair risers and pickets which needed replacing. How wonderful to have a stain refinisher that also repairs these problem areas.

I look forward to your company taking care of the needs of my deck for many years to come.
Gloria B. - Forest HillRebuilt Deck Staircase, Removed Peeling Stain, Refinished Deck